NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern 2026: Check Marking Scheme for Prelims & Mains
NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern 2026 has been designed by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to evaluate candidates for 91 vacancies in RDBS, Legal Service, Protocol & Security Service. This pattern assesses candidates’ aptitude, domain knowledge, and communication skills relevant to agriculture & rural development banking. The exam pattern contains three phases, namely, Prelims, Mains & Interview. Prelims acts as an online screening test, Mains contains objective & descriptive papers to assess deeper subject knowledge, and an Interview which evaluates personality, and overall suitability for NABARD Grade A posts.
NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
NABARD Grade A Prelims exam 2026 serves as a screening stage to shortlist candidates for the mains. It is an objective-type test to be completed in 2 hours. The table given below shows NABARD Grade A Prelims exam pattern.
NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam Pattern for RDBS & Legal Service
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning | 20 | 20 | 120 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | |
| Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | |
| Decision Making | 10 | 10 | |
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 | |
| Economic & Social Issues (with focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | |
| Agriculture & Rural Development (with focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Note:
- Marking Scheme: ¼ mark (0.25) penalty for each wrong answer.
- Test of Reasoning, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, and Decision Making are Qualifying Sections.
NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern for Protocol & Security Service (Online exam)
| Sections | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time Taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | |
| Computer Knowledge | 50 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 75 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 2 hours |
Candidates shortlisted from the online exam for NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern (Protocol & Security Service) have to undergo:
- An MCQ Based Psychometric Test (Mandatory) conducted in 90 minute duration.
- Interview which carries 50 marks.
NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Pattern 2026
NABARD Grade A Mains exam is the second stage of the recruitment process. It comprises two papers: Paper 1 is on General English (descriptive in nature), and Paper 2 varies based on the post applied for. Paper 2 includes both objective and descriptive sections.
For Generalist Posts
| Paper | Subject | Type of Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General English | Descriptive (Online) | 3 | 100 | 90 minutes |
| 2 | Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development | Objective | 30 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Descriptive | 6 (attempt 4) | 50 | 90 minutes |
For Specialist & Legal Posts
| Paper | Subject | Type of Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General English | Descriptive (Online) | 3 | 100 | 90 minutes |
| 2 | Stream-Specific Subject | Objective | 30 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Descriptive | 6 (attempt 4) | 50 | 90 minutes |
Marking Scheme: Negative marking applies in the Objective part (¼ mark) for wrong answers.
NABARD Grade A Interview Exam Pattern 2026
After the Mains, shortlisted candidates undergo an interview or personality test. This stage assesses overall suitability, communication skills, domain understanding, and fitness for the role. The interview marks are added to the Mains score to produce the final merit list. It carries a total of 50 marks.
The entry-level salary of NABARD Grade A Assistant Manager starts at a basic pay of around Rs. 44,500 per month. With allowances such as DA, HRA, GA, and other perks, the gross salary is around 1 lakh per month initially. Officers also enjoy facilities including medical coverage, leave travel concession, and low-interest loans.
NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
Ques: What are the merit sections in NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam 2026?
Ans: The merit sections include General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues, and Agriculture & Rural Development (focused on Rural India), Marks from these sections determine shortlisting for the Mains exam.
Ques: In which languages is NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam 2026 conducted?
Ans: NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam is conducted in English and Hindi, except the English Language section, which is available only in English for all candidates.
Ques: Are descriptive answers typed for NABARD Grade A Mains?
Ans: Yes. Both Paper 1 and the descriptive section of Paper 2 require typing answers online using a keyboard (English or Hindi with an appropriate input method).
Ques: Are all Prelims sections mandatory to attempt in NABARD Grade A 2026?
Ans: Yes. Candidates must attempt all sections in the Prelims exam. However, only marks from merit sections determine qualification for the Mains examination.
Ques: Is there sectional timing in NABARD Grade A Prelims?
Ans: No sectional timing is applied in Prelims. Candidates can navigate between sections freely within the overall 120-minute duration.
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